L.O.V.E. - Love

Letting Our Victory Emerge

It’s easy to love your mama who gathered you to her bosom
Sang lullabies to her precious little prince and princess,
Who made your seat a soft cushion.
Who worked tirelessly to give you the abundance of your wishes,
Who made your days glow like the glistening sunshine.
Who gave you the resources to develop a good mind.
Who stood by and wouldn’t tire when you were in the fire.
And so you love her too.
Because she first loved you.

It’s easy to love a sister or a brother,
Or some other kin ever willing to bend.
Who doesn’t treasure a friend among men who would walk with you
Through a lion’s den.
Who kept your back when it was broken and bowed with despair.
Whose comfort and care was always there.
It is easy to love a loved one. A daughter or a son.
Or someone who lifts you up on high
And make you feel like a truly great guy.

But not so when your parent kicked you to the curb
Because her mind was muddled with dope,
Or disturbed and couldn't cope.
It's really difficult to love a parent who left home without a word,
Or perhaps you were overshadowed by another much more preferred.

Most find it hard to have love for one who disappoints and causes regret,
Who disrespects and makes you just plain upset,
Someone who always knocks at your door with a cup in hand.
Someone who eats from the dumpster or a garbage can.
Or the stranger on the street
Who walks to a different drumbeat.
It’s hard to love, in spirit and in truth,
Someone who is maybe a little uncouth.
It’s not easy either, to love the haughty and proud,
Or that someone who, God! he talks so loud!

The love that the preachers don’t preach about.
The love that the teachers don’t teach and tout.
The love from above which should cause us to sing and shout.
It’s not often taught from the pulpit,
Not seen from where the congregations sit.
Most don’t even know it.
Most are just mired in the grit and the clay.
Or whatever is the sermon of the day.

It is called AGAPE
A
Great
And
Purposeful
Energy.

It interfaces with the word synergy.
It’s that love unconditional….
With no limitations,
With no conditions,
Complete and guaranteed,
No provisions attached.
Won’t be snatched back.
That love which can only come from and through God.
That love which sets us apart.
That love that God had for David –
The adulterer, the fornicator, the liar, the conspirator, the murderer.
The man described as being “a man after God’s own heart.”
Why so?
David said to God, I love You fervently and devotedly,
O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1
“Save me for the sake of Your steadfast love and mercy.” Psalm 6:4
God said of David, “Because he has set his love upon Me,
Therefore will I deliver him,
I will set him on high because he knows and understands My Name.”
Psalm 91:14

God looks on the heart and determines a man –
It is within the heart that God’s love flows as a fountain of life
In a fruited land.
“The Lord sees not as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance,
But God looks on the heart.” 1Samual 16:7
A man may display a likened smile,
But his heart may be filled with pretentious guile.
He imitates, puts on the face of sanctimonious manners.
And makes like he wears godly-like banners.
A man feigns self-righteous faith.
Putting on the proper face.
He talks the talk and play-acts the part he confesses,
But God looks within the heart of what he professes -
To see whether agape is the foundation on which his love is based.
On what altar his idols are placed.
“How do I love thee, let me count the ways,”
Is a well-worn phrase we’re taught.
“Turn against me and I will damn your days,”
Often come as an afterthought.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God;
And he who loves his fellowman is begotten (born)of God
And is coming (progressively) to know and understand God.
He who does not love has not become acquainted with God.
For God is love.” 1John 4:7-8
“Above all things have unfailing love (agape) for one another,
For love covers a multitude of sins.” 1Peter 4-8

This is the love spoken of in John 3:16-18
“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that
He gave up His only begotten Son.
So that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, not be lost,
But have eternal life.
For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge,
To reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on the world,
But that the world might find salvation through Him.
He who believes in Him is not judged, (For him there is no rejection,
No condemnation, He incurs no damnation).”

In 1Corinthians 13, it reads that should a man possess
Prophetic powers and all knowledge, professes unflinching faith,
Gives generously to the poor, gives faithfully his offerings and gifts,
But have not love,
He is nothing.
He could be moral in all his ways,
But have not love,
He gains nothing in God’s sight.
“God’s love in us is not conceited, it is not self-seeking, not resentful,
Pays no attention to a suffered wrong or slight.
Love bears up under anything and is ready to believe
The best of every person.”
This is the highest redeeming lesson.
This is where the agape banner is hung as The Light.
This agape love is not captured by jealousy and strife,
Nor does it succumb to the vainglorious and pompous life.

Most people love with conditions and restrictions.
It’s the human nature of man. The man of the earth.
Clayed in his Adamic birth.
He contends with the love which is given, offered,
And outspread by, with, and through the love from above.

Love those who back-stab you?! Talk against you? Lie on you?!
Betray you?!
Are you serious?! Is this really what we’re required to do?
Love someone who did you wrong?
So long. I’m outta here. I’m gone.

It is not an easy road to travel.
I struggle on it too.
It’s paved with hindering obstacles made of sharp-edged gravel.
The most difficult requirement - It requires you to be forgiving.
Which is the footing for a Christ-centered living.

Man can only attain and aspire to this great and abounding love of God,
This unconditional agape love, through the guidance, the help, the life
Of the Holy Ghost instilling and indwelling,
Infusing and suffusing itself
Within the very depth of the heart and soul.
In Ephesians 3, Paul prays that we be rooted deep in love
And founded securely on love.
That we would apprehend and grasp what is the breadth and length
And height of God’s love.
Which far surpasses mere knowledge.

God’s love is –
Knowing
Personal
Conquering
Unbreakable
Intimate
Like the Father for the Son
Sacrificial
Victorious
Everlasting
Great
Abundant
Abounding
Overflowing
Complete
Life-sustaining .

God’s love
IS - It stands, it remains, it is present, it is here, it is there,
It exists, it coexists, it’s alive, it lives, it is real,
It occurs, it happens
It arises, it falls on the high and low.
Like the sun.
It shines for everyone.
That’s what God wants us to know.
It‘s the way by which we prosper and grow.

Love is referred to in the New Testament scriptures
More than any other word,
Yet it is seldom given its proper hearing.
It is in the Word of God that is most endearing.

“God – so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order
To satisfy the great and wonderful
And intense love with which He loves us.” Ephesians 2:4

“In this love: God was made manifest (displayed …)” 1John 4:9

“I (Christ) have loved you, just as the Father has loved Me;
Abide in My love.” John 15:9“

“For the Father Himself(tenderly)loves you
Because you have loved Me….” John 16:27

“I command you to love one another.” John 15:17

“Love one another; just as I have loved you.” John 13:34

“Love one another fervently from a pure heart.” 1Peter 1:22“

“Let your love be sincere.” Romans 12:9

“God’s love has been poured out in our hearts
Through the Holy Spirit.” Romans 5:5

“May God make you to increase and excel and overflow in love
For one another and for all people…” 1Thessalonians 3:12

“My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
I address my psalm to a King.
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.” Psalm 45:1
With Love from the Heart,
Ruth
7/16/2011

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
“He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the
Holy Spirit says to the assemblies.” Revelation 3:22


(Scripture texts based on the Amplified Bible translation)